Moissan in 1886 was the first to prepare artificial diamonds. He heated a mixture of sugar, charcoal and iron in a crucible in an electric furnace. Iron first melted and then began to boil. It dissolved a good deal of carbon. When the temperature reached about 40000 C, he allowed the solution obtained to cool down by plunging the crucible in water. A portion of the dissolved carbon crystallized out in the form of diamonds. Subjecting the cooled mass to the action of hydrochloric acid to remove the iron, Moissan was able to set free the diamonds so formed.